Electric switch.



Patented July 2, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 1 News r-nms mJuomm-na. wasemvu M. J. QUINN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15. I917.

Patented July 2, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

HABTIN J. QUINNQ' OF TOBON'I'O ONTABIO, CANADA.

ELECTRIC swrrcn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed January 15, 1917. Serial 11' 0. 142,506.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARTIN JOSEPH QUINN, of the city of Toronto, in the county of York, Province of Ontario, and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new-and useful Improvements in Electric Switches; and .I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same.

This invention relates to. a combination switch for .makingand breaking an electric circuit, consisting essentially: of an assemblageof relatively fixed and. movable con tacts, all of which, for the closing-of the circuit, must be brought into series to effect the electrical connection by whichthe cur rent may pass successively through each contact from one switch terminal to the. other; one of the objects of the invention being, to arrange thesecontacts in any preconcerted order so that they ma be brought into series by the same or diflizrent degrees of. movement; a further object of the invention being, to'so arrange this assemblage of contacts that any or all of them are capable of transposition, whereby the previous degree; or degrees of movement may be altered to bring them into series.

For an understanding of the invention, reference isto behad to the followin description. and to the accompanying rawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view.

Fig. 2'is a rear elevational view.

Fig. '3 is a vertical section lengthwise of the switch, showing an open circuit there-f through.

Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3, showing the position of the moving contacts when the circuit is closed.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan of the construction shown in the preceding views.

Fig. 6 is a plan detail view on a larger scale than the preceding figures of one of the moving contacts, handle, and spindle shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4and'5.

Fig. 6 isani elevational' detail view of the parts shown in Fig. 6, showing the inner dial tor the spindle of the moving contact.-

1 Fig. 7 is a detail-view of a modification.

of the moving contact shown in. thepreced- 1Il%- V1QWS.

1g. 8 is a horizontalsection ofa modification ofthe construction of. the switchshown inFigs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Like characters of. reference refer to like parts throughout the specifications and drawings.

As shown in, Figs. 1 to 5' inclusive, the switch case a, consisting of insulating material, is formed with three cy lindrical'recep-. taoles a", a", a the-circular Walls of which are provided with axial grooves b.

Contained-in the receptaclesa, a", a? are. independently moving contacts 0' 0'. 0", re.-v spectively, always in pressure against the Walls of the receptacles. and during their rotation entering successively intotheaxial grooves 6, whereby their movement may be sensible to the touch or hearing.

Each movingcontact is. connected; by a spring d with a collard rotatableon its respective spindle e, e or e journaled in the. corresponding receptacle of the switch case, the collar being-locked in its adjusted position, on its spindle by a set. screw (1". The. spindles extend beyond the front of the. switch case a and are provided with a rotating handle f, f, f respectively,.the. innerend ofeach of which is of substantially the same diameter as that of its corresponding receptacle and forms therewith a revolving Patented .July 2,1918.

sponding in number and location with those of the dial 7, the purpose of the dial fbeing to facilitate the transposition of-the moving contacts, when a change of the combination on which they may bebrought.

into series is desired.

On each handle 1s a ralse'd Indicator-gnuts h, by which the conductors may be connected thereto.

Vithin the switch case a, and in contact with the binding post it is a fixed contact 2' leading into the receptacle 6;, to be engaged by the moving contact 0 during its rotation. The spindle e of the moving contact 0 is of conducting metal and extends beyond the rear face of the switch case a, and is electrically in circuit with the spindle e" of the moving contact 0, by an electric connector j, consisting, as shown in Fig. 2, of a piece of spring metal, preferably copper, bored to fit on said spindles, and secured thereon in tension by lock nuts 70, so that the current may circuit from the binding post h, by means of the fixed contact 2', moving contact c and its respective spindle e and connector j, to the spindle e" of moving contact 0".

In the switch case a is a fixed contact 2" leading from the receptacle a to the receptacle a whereby the current may circuit from the spindle e" of the mov ing contact 0 to the moving contact 0 and its respective spindle 6 the spindle e of the moving contact 0 being similar to the spindles of the moving contacts c c, and in circuit with the binding post 72. by anelectrical connector 7", which is also in tension and similar to the electrical connector j.

When the assemblage of moving and fixed contacts are in series, the circuit of the current through the switch is, by means of the binding post it, fixed contact i, moving contact 0, spindle 6, electrical connector 7', spindle 6, moving contact 0', fixed contact 2', moving contact 0 spindle e and connector j and binding post h.

For the operation of the switch shown in the drawings, each dial consists of ten divisions numbered respectively from 0 to 9. If the fixed contact a is in line with the ninth division of the dial when division 0 is opposite the zero mark and the moving contact 0' is set opposite the 0 division of its respective dial,'it will be necessary in bringing the moving contact into engagement with the fixed contact 6, to rotate the handle ninetenths of a complete revolution in a clockwise direction, or one-tenth of a complete revolution in the reverse direction.

Likewise, if the fixed contact a" is opposite the division 4: of the dial of the moving contact 0 when its division 0 is at zero, and opposite the seventh division of the dial of the moving contact 0 when its division 0 is at zero, and the moving contacts 0', c are set oppositethe divisions marked 0 of their respective dials, it will be necessary to rotate the moving contact 0 threetenths of a revolution to bring it into engagement with the fixed contact i, if moving in a clockwise direction, or seven-tenths of a complete revolution, if moving in the reverse direction, and, it will be necessary to rotate the moving contact 0 seven-tenths of a complete revolution, if moving in a clockwise direction, or three-tenths of a revolution if moving in the reverse direction to bring it into engagement with the fixed contact '11.

Until the moving contact 0 is in engagement with the fixed contact 2' and the moving contacts 0", 0 are in engagement with the fixed contact 71, the circuit is open through the switch and the current cannot pass from the binding post it to the binding post 72,. When they are in contact, as above stated, all the electrical parts of the switch may be said to be in series and the current can freely circuit from one binding post to the other.

When the dials are visible, the moving contacts can be rotated into engagement with the fixed contacts, without regard either to the sensation of touch or hearing, resulting from their entrance into the axial grooves, but in the dark, it is advisable to provide some means by which the rotation can be checked and the sensation resulting from the moving contacts entering these grooves, is found to be a satisfactory and convenient means for doing so.

In order to determine the relative positions of the moving to the fixed contacts, when the dials are not visible, the indicators 9 have been provided to permit of the rotating handles being first brought to the zero position through the sense of touch, and from that position the distance t 'aveled by the moving contacts in either clockwise or reverse direction may be easily determined by the sense of touch or sound as the moving contacts pass the axial grooves.

The moving contacts can be set opposite any selected division of the dial to vary the combination upon which the circuit is closed, and the number of the moving and fixed contacts may be varied and so also may the number of combinations which it is possible to make in bringing the moving contacts into engagement with the fixed contacts.

In Figs. 6 the moving contact is shown to consist of a roller L, journaled in the forks L" vof the-springarin d, secured to the collard-{but in Fig.7 the'moving contact consists of a spoon shapedshoem connected by an-arm dtofthe collar onthe spindle.

Asit'is possible,- however, to use either of these typesof contacts, or other modifications thereof, it is not desired to confine the invention to either orany'of them.

The normal tendency of the spring arms d 'is tohold the "moving'contacts with pressure against the walls of the receptacles and maintain the necessary touch between the fixed and moving contacts when in engagement.

In Fig. 8 the circuit of the current through the fixed and movable contacts is shown to be controlled by a combination of keys 0, 0, o" and 0 each of which carries a movable contact p, p, p" and 19 respectively. In this case eight fixed contacts numbered from 1 to 8 inclusive are employed, fixed contact 1 being provided with a binding post 9. Fixed contacts 2 and 3 are coupled by a connector 10, fixed contacts 4 and 5 are coupled by a connector 11, fixed contacts 6 and 7 are coupled by a connector 12, and fixed contact 8 is provided with a binding post 13.

The moving contacts p, p, p, 39*, are provided with insulators q, g, g", 9 respectively. As shown in Fig. 8, the insulators q, q" are located above the movlng contacts and the insulators g, g are located below the moving contacts. In order to establish a connection through the switch it is necessary to press inward the keys 0, 0. and to press outward the keys 0, 0 This brings, the moving contact p into engage- I ment with the fixed contacts 1 and 2, the

moving contact p into engagement with the fixed contacts 3 and 4, the moving contact 1)" into engagement with the fixed contacts 5 and 6, and the moving contact 79 into engagement with the fixed contacts 7 and 8. The current then circuits through the switch as follows: from the binding post 9 to the fixed contact 1, moving contact p, fixed contact 2, connector 10, fixed contact 3, moving contact p, fixed contact 4, connector 11, fixed contact 5, moving contact p, fixed contact 6, connector 12, fixed contact 7 moving contact 12 fixed contact 8, binding post 13.

If one of the keys, for instance 0 or 0" is pressed outward instead of inward, the insulator g or q will come into engagement with the fixed contacts, and the circuit will be immediately opened. The same result would happen if either of the keys 7), ga were pressed inward, the insulators g, then coming into engagement with the fixed contacts would also result in the opening of the circuit. Thus, it is manifest that in order to close the circuit from the binding l-post 9-to the bindingpost 13, it is necessary To hold the keys in their set position, that is to say, to either open or close the circuit through the switch, the inner ends of the keys 0, 0, 0 and 0 are provided with ball shaped protuberances 1-, to be engaged by curved springs s, appropriately secured to the switch case a, which, as in the construction shown in other Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, is of insulating material. It may be possible, however, to vary these springs and their attachment within the scope of the claims.

Other changes may be made in the construction of the switch, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the essential feature of the invention, which is, to provide a switch with a combination of fixed and movable contacts, which must be brought into correct engagement before the circuit can be completed through the apparatus. It is also possible to change the location of the fixed contacts within the switch case, so that the adjustment may be made in that Way to effect a change of combination.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An electric switch comprising a switch case of insulating material having a plurality of cylindrical receptacles, a rotatable contact in each receptacle, always in pressure against its cylindrical wall, and fixed contacts in the cylindrical walls of said receptacles arranged to be engaged by the ro tatable contacts, one of said fixed contacts extending through the Walls of two of the receptacles, and conductors combined with the fixed and movable contacts completing the circuit through the switch.

2. An electric switch comprising a switch case of insulating material having a plurality of cylindrical receptacles, the walls of which are provided with axial grooves, a rotatable contact in each receptacle always in pressure against its cylindrical wall, and fixed contacts in the cylindrical walls oi said receptacles arranged to be engaged by the rotatable contacts, one of said fixed contacts extending through the walls of two of the receptacles, and conductors combined with the fixed and movable contacts completing the circuit through the switch.

3. An electric switch comprising a switch case of insulating material having a plurality of cylindrical receptacles, a rotatable contact in each receptacle always in pressure against its cylindrical Wall, binding the Walls of two of the receptacles, and conposts for the switch case and fixed contacts ductors combined with the movable contacts 10 in the cylindrical Walls of said receptacles and one of the binding posts.

arranged to be engaged by the rotatable Toronto, Ontario, January 9th, 1917.

contacts, one of said fixed contacts extend- MARTIN J. QUINN ing from one of the binding posts through Signed in the presence ofthe Wall of one of the receptacles, and an- ELSIE WHITEHEAD,

other of the fixed contacts extending through C. H. RIoHEs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0!. Patents, Washington, 1). G 

